Candidates Name Their Favorite Books

CBS Evening News: Obama And McCain Answer Katie Couric's Presidential Questions

(CBS)  In less than a week, Americans decide whether Barack Obama or John McCain becomes the 44th President of the United States. In the series "Presidential Questions," CBS News anchor Katie Couric asks questions that move the candidates well beyond the usual sound-bites. Some questions concern policy. Others are more personal. All will give you a better sense of who these men are - and what has shaped them. What follows is Couric's question - and the candidates' full answers.

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Katie Couric: What is your favorite book of all time?

Barack Obama: Well, the bible is the book that shaped me and moved me the most. But, in addition to that, Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon" might be one of my favorite books. It's just a beautiful, beautiful book. And I've gotten a chance to know Toni Morrison during the course of this campaign, and she's just as elegant and wise and thoughtful as you would want her to be. You know, it's always nice to meet somebody and they turn out to be just like you want them to be. She's just a spectacular writer and a spectacular woman.

Shakespeare's tragedies, whether it's "Hamlet" or "[King] Lear." There's so much in each of those tragedies. You can read them once a year and each year, there's something new, there's something you didn't notice. There is some insight into the human dilemma. It's powerful stuff.

John McCain: "For Whom the Bell Tolls." It's about a fella from Montana that goes to Spain to fight for a cause he believes in. His name is Jordan. He falls in love, of course, with a beautiful Spanish young woman, but he's willing - even when disillusioned with a cause he came to fight for, which was the Communists - he's willing to sacrifice his life for his comrades. And that's where I got the phrase "the world is a wonderful place and well worth the fighting for."

[ggam1]

Hey ya think ya guys can capitalize the tittle to Obama''s favorite book? Wished he''d read it, God the Father is far from liberal. And there is only one Way to the Father, that''s through Jesus Christ. He missed them verses as well.

That''s how you correct stuff, if ya get my meaning.

[onarollagain]

Everyone...Repubs and Crats...email the LA Times to release the tape...it is our civil duty to do this and their responsibility to release the tape. Take action...let''''s get control of the United States of America again and out of the mainstream media''''s bias release of information

[ggam1]

Yeah, the tape! Is LA being Confidential?

[cpboyce]

%u201CFor Whom the Bell Tolls%u201D is McCain%u2019s favorite book? And he thinks Jordan was fighting against COMMUNISTS? In Spain??? It was Facists, John. Right-wingers. Maybe you should read it again.

[skokoom]

I couldn''t believe what I heard when John McMain said that the story in his favorite book "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is about fighting Communism. Incredible, did McCain ever read the book? The story is about the struggle of a young American fighting Spain''s fascist dictator Franco in the 1930''s, and his henchmen the Nazis. This should make you question McCain''s judgement and/or his integrity.

[liberalme]

Everyone...Repubs and Crats...email the LA Times to release the tape...it is our civil duty to do this and their responsibility to release the tape. Take action...let''''''''s get control of the United States of America again and out of the mainstream media''''''''s bias release of information

Posted by onarollagain at

GOOD IDEA!!!

During the 1990s, while he served as chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), McCain distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, including one worth half a million dollars.

A 1998 tax filing for the McCain-led group shows a $448,873 grant to Khalidi''''''''s Center for Palestine Research and Studies for work in the West Bank. (See grant number 5180, "West Bank: CPRS" on page 14 of this PDF.)

The relationship extends back as far as 1993, when John McCain joined IRI as chairman in January. Foreign Affairs noted in September of that year that IRI had helped fund several extensive studies in Palestine run by Khalidi''''''''s group, including over 30 public opinion polls and a study of "sociopolitical attitudes."

Of course, there''''''''s seemingly nothing objectionable with McCain''''''''s organization helping a Palestinian group conduct research in the West Bank or Gaza. But it does suggest that McCain could have some of his own explaining to do as he tries to make hay out of Khalidi''''''''s ties to Obama.

[roadracer9x]

ggam1 -- How typical of a Republican right winger. Your G_d is the only G_d, you know everything, and your interpretation of scripture is the only correct one. How very "christian" of you to to use your beliefs to denigrate others. By the way, I don''t print the name G_d completely with respect to the commandment prohibiting the taking of G_d''s name in vain.

[beader59]

I can actually understand McCain''s pick. He is a military man afterall. I was more disappointed in Obama''s pick. How self-serving was his answer? As a Democrat, I cringe at the thought of our political leaders mixing religion and politics. It is not a mix that should be tolerated and I am afraid that Obama will use his religion to make political decisions and that I cannot agree with.

[wcajr]

McCain clearly says that the novel''s hero grew disillusioned with the cause he went to Spain to fight FOR, not against. Robert Jordan enlisted in the anti-Franco forces, and these were an amalgam of various sorts, including Communists. Recalling our high-school history, this is what we would expect: Communists (far left) vs. Fascists (far right).

[mytoosense]

Sarah Palins response to the same question:

Hey, I was already asked that question by Katie Couric!!!........Newspapers, Books, same thing!!!

[ohioboomer]

Holy cow,

If McCain had not served in the military would he have even been running in this campaign? Jesus, people should have more interests than war, war, war. I''m so tired of hearin'' ''bout the war.......
:)